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Coalition still lags in polls as Morrison delivers election pitch – politics live Coalition still lags in polls as Morrison delivers election pitch – politics live
(35 minutes later)
Opening up the ‘Oh wow, they really did that box’, Christopher Pyne had a chat to David Wroe from the Sydney Morning Herald, where he decided to give his opinion on the leadership spill (you know, that thing that happened last year, and we are never to speak of again, because it is soooooo 2018):
“I felt that the constant social media, shouty segment of the press, that keeps everybody on edge in this building all the time - and might actually not reflect at all the way the public think - had won, and that sensible people had bowed to that irrational pressure,” he said.
“And I thought that this is the Australian polity of the future. This is what we’ve now got. And it’s different to what I think is good for the country.”
Michael Kroger thought Tim Wilson was “outstanding” on Sky just now.
So still not great at reading a room, despite stepping down from the Victorian Liberals executive top spot, then.
Everything is totally fine and normal.
.@TimWilsonMP: The allegations are complete rubbish. We have a website where we encourage people to send a submission through – if people wanted to sign that, then we honoured that. The basis of Labor’s argument is just fiction. MORE: https://t.co/NG6GqKKcpI #amagenda pic.twitter.com/mrkqNQv3eV
Oh and the use of the coat of arms on a ‘private’ website? Also fine and normal
.@Kieran_Gilbert: It seems a bit confusing that you have your coat of arms on a private website. @TimWilsonMP: It is for a parliamentary purpose to campaign against a piece of policy. MORE: https://t.co/NG6GqKKcpI #amagenda pic.twitter.com/Lpu9zOQYL9
(side note, Tim Wilson delivers talking points like he just downloaded a toastmasters power speech class directly into his brain)
Tim Wilson is speaking to Sky.
On the criticisms over how he has used his committee chair position for political gain.
His first response: “Bring it on”.
That should play well.
The government has also announced a policy to aid those escaping domestic and family violence. From the prime minister’s release:
Hundreds more women and children escaping domestic and family violence will have a safe place to sleep with a $78m investment by the Morrison government.
This investment includes a $60m grants program for eligible organisations to provide new or expanded emergency accommodation facilities for those escaping domestic and family violence.
This program will build up to 450 safe places and assist up to 6,500 people per year. The grant program will be structured to encourage contributions from other levels of government, and from private and philanthropic sources.
A further $18m will be invested in the Keeping Women Safe in their Homes program, which has assisted over 5,200 women since 2015-16, providing security upgrades and safety planning so women and children can remain in their own homes, if it is safe to do so.
Prime minister Scott Morrison said this investment was a key commitment to the Fourth Action Plan 2019-2022, the final plan under the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children 2010-2022.”
It’s also Newspoll day – and things are still not looking up for the government.
Yes, Scott Morrison is still preferred prime minister, but that measure is sort of bupkis as a political pointer. Prime ministers tend to be more popular than opposition leaders, because a) they have better name recognition and b) the job of an opposition leader is to, well oppose the government. That tends to see them come across as negative in the 15-second TV grabs.
The latest Newspoll has Labor leading the government 53 to 47 on the two-party-preferred measure. That’s not great, if you are the Coalition.
Coalition remains headed for defeat in latest Newspoll despite Morrison bump
What does that mean? Mostly, that Scott Morrison is going to be even more Scott Morrison. The most Scott Morrison ever.
He’s starting with his National Press Club address.
Scott Morrison ramps up border protection rhetoric with attack on Labor
The politics around the medivac bill has gone a little bananas in the last couple of days.The politics around the medivac bill has gone a little bananas in the last couple of days.
First Scott Morrison called it “stupid”, then a security briefing prepared for Home Affairs was leaked, and somewhere in the middle of that, Bill Shorten’s language changed, with “middle ground” starting to make an appearance.First Scott Morrison called it “stupid”, then a security briefing prepared for Home Affairs was leaked, and somewhere in the middle of that, Bill Shorten’s language changed, with “middle ground” starting to make an appearance.
Where Labor lands on this should be decided today.Where Labor lands on this should be decided today.
Scott Morrison and the Coalition though are only ramping up the political attacks – and speaking to Radio National this morning, Anthony Albanese was asked if Labor would “hold fast on this”.Scott Morrison and the Coalition though are only ramping up the political attacks – and speaking to Radio National this morning, Anthony Albanese was asked if Labor would “hold fast on this”.
What we’ve got to do here is take a bit of a step back from the government’s rather hysterical rhetoric and think about what this bill is about and why Kerryn Phelps has brought it forward. This is about whether people who we have responsibility for, who we’re to look after, if they’re sick and need medical care, whether they should get access to that? Our view is yes.What we’ve got to do here is take a bit of a step back from the government’s rather hysterical rhetoric and think about what this bill is about and why Kerryn Phelps has brought it forward. This is about whether people who we have responsibility for, who we’re to look after, if they’re sick and need medical care, whether they should get access to that? Our view is yes.
I think that the Australian people understand that and their answer to that is yes as well. And what the government has done on this legislation, frankly, is not tell the truth. Because the legislation, yes, says that two doctors may make a recommendation, but that’s subject to ministerial approval.I think that the Australian people understand that and their answer to that is yes as well. And what the government has done on this legislation, frankly, is not tell the truth. Because the legislation, yes, says that two doctors may make a recommendation, but that’s subject to ministerial approval.
The minister can then refer it to a panel which includes people who the minister himself, Mr Dutton, has appointed to that point. And they will make a final determination, except for, of course, the minister also has discretion on national security grounds.The minister can then refer it to a panel which includes people who the minister himself, Mr Dutton, has appointed to that point. And they will make a final determination, except for, of course, the minister also has discretion on national security grounds.
Yesterday, Shayne Neumann gave comment on the bill, saying this in a statement:Yesterday, Shayne Neumann gave comment on the bill, saying this in a statement:
Labor has always had two clear objectives – making sure sick people can get medical care, and making sure the minister has final discretion over medical transfers.Labor has always had two clear objectives – making sure sick people can get medical care, and making sure the minister has final discretion over medical transfers.
Labor has great respect for our national security agencies and we’ve always worked cooperatively with them. While the Liberals leak national security information, we listen to it.Labor has great respect for our national security agencies and we’ve always worked cooperatively with them. While the Liberals leak national security information, we listen to it.
The Liberals have sunk to a new low by threatening to let the boats start again. They are walking, talking billboards for the people smugglers and they should be ashamed of themselves.The Liberals have sunk to a new low by threatening to let the boats start again. They are walking, talking billboards for the people smugglers and they should be ashamed of themselves.
Labor will never let the people smugglers back into business.Labor will never let the people smugglers back into business.
So is there a compromise?So is there a compromise?
Albanese:Albanese:
We have said that and we’re prepared to compromise across the parliament. This should not be a partisan issue. But this is a government that doesn’t look for outcomes but looks for arguments. That’s one of the reasons why it is in the state that it is. It doesn’t look for solutions. It has responsibility and it knows full well that almost 1,000 people have already been transferred to Australia. And the provisions in which they need medical assistance so what this is attempting to do ...We have said that and we’re prepared to compromise across the parliament. This should not be a partisan issue. But this is a government that doesn’t look for outcomes but looks for arguments. That’s one of the reasons why it is in the state that it is. It doesn’t look for solutions. It has responsibility and it knows full well that almost 1,000 people have already been transferred to Australia. And the provisions in which they need medical assistance so what this is attempting to do ...
There’s an argument that the ministerial discretion is there because it’s the minister who appoints the panel that will make the determination and the minister still has, under this legislation that’s proposed, discretion over national security grounds. So if we need to tweak the legislation, then by all means, we should be able to do that in order to get an outcome. But I think that what Dr Phelps, in discussions that I had with her last year was very clear about, was that she was about outcomes. So if we need to tweak the legislation, by all means, let’s have those discussions.”There’s an argument that the ministerial discretion is there because it’s the minister who appoints the panel that will make the determination and the minister still has, under this legislation that’s proposed, discretion over national security grounds. So if we need to tweak the legislation, then by all means, we should be able to do that in order to get an outcome. But I think that what Dr Phelps, in discussions that I had with her last year was very clear about, was that she was about outcomes. So if we need to tweak the legislation, by all means, let’s have those discussions.”
Happy New (Parliament) Year!Happy New (Parliament) Year!
I hope everyone has had a lovely break and is ready to get back into what is going to be an excruciatingly punishing year in Australian politics. Elections tend to do that.I hope everyone has had a lovely break and is ready to get back into what is going to be an excruciatingly punishing year in Australian politics. Elections tend to do that.
There is no parliament today – that starts back tomorrow – but with Scott Morrison due to give his National Press Club address, Newspoll, asylum seeker decisions and just general, well, politics, we thought we’d get in early and run a blog for the day.There is no parliament today – that starts back tomorrow – but with Scott Morrison due to give his National Press Club address, Newspoll, asylum seeker decisions and just general, well, politics, we thought we’d get in early and run a blog for the day.
Bill Shorten is due to meet with Mike Pezzullo, the secretary of the home affairs department, the chief of defence and the chief of Operation Sovereign Borders (yes, there is such a title) to get the security downlow on the asylum seeker and refugee medical evacuation bill. We have heard the government wanted to put some staffers in there, which ruffled some feathers on the Labor side, because it is not as though things have been particularly airtight around these matters lately.Bill Shorten is due to meet with Mike Pezzullo, the secretary of the home affairs department, the chief of defence and the chief of Operation Sovereign Borders (yes, there is such a title) to get the security downlow on the asylum seeker and refugee medical evacuation bill. We have heard the government wanted to put some staffers in there, which ruffled some feathers on the Labor side, because it is not as though things have been particularly airtight around these matters lately.
After that, the Labor caucus will meet. That usually happens on a Tuesday, but a special meeting will be held today, as the party comes to its final decision on the amended legislation.After that, the Labor caucus will meet. That usually happens on a Tuesday, but a special meeting will be held today, as the party comes to its final decision on the amended legislation.
All of this though, is moot if Cathy McGowan has changed her mind about supporting the bill.All of this though, is moot if Cathy McGowan has changed her mind about supporting the bill.
We’ll bring you all of those developments and more as the day goes on.We’ll bring you all of those developments and more as the day goes on.
Mike Bowers is on deck, as is Katharine Murphy, Paul Karp and the rest of the Guardian Australia brains trust. You can find us on Twitter, or, when we have time, in the comments.Mike Bowers is on deck, as is Katharine Murphy, Paul Karp and the rest of the Guardian Australia brains trust. You can find us on Twitter, or, when we have time, in the comments.
I am on coffee number three. There is not enough coffee in the world for this year. I can already feel it.I am on coffee number three. There is not enough coffee in the world for this year. I can already feel it.
Ready? Let’s get into it.Ready? Let’s get into it.